Call it what you will but San Diegans are casting votes once again to select the region’s top political leader after the disastrous nine-month tenure of former Mayor Bob Filner ended amid a sexual harassment scandal.

The top four contenders in Tuesday’s special election — former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, City Council members David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer and Qualcomm executive Nathan Fletcher — provide an opportunity to start anew and erase the “Filner headlock” from our collective memory.

It’s been nearly a year since Filner soared into the Mayor’s Office with his promise to bring change and move the city forward, yet nearly all of the opportunities and challenges he faced on his first day remain. The city is cautiously optimistic after a decade of financial woes, but the foundation laid by former Mayor Jerry Sanders allows San Diego’s next leader to dream a bit bigger than balancing the budget.

In depth

The top four

The leading candidates — Alvarez, Faulconer and Fletcher — couldn’t be any more different from Filner.

They’ve each demonstrated a collaborative style and a respect toward their political opponents that Filner was unable to muster as he bullied and offended so many at City Hall.

Aguirre is still living with his reputation as a combative city attorney, which was a major contributing factor to his failed re-election bid in 2008. He says he’s a changed man and is asking voters for a second chance.

The biggest question facing Alvarez is whether he’s ready. The first-term councilman is short on experience but has the same Democratic ideals as Filner and former Councilwoman Donna Frye that play well with the party’s base. He’s also bolstered by huge financial support from powerful labor organizations.

Faulconer, the longest-tenured Republican at City Hall, is widely considered the choice for those who favored Sanders’ style of moderate politics and governing. He has a strong pro-business record and deep ties to the downtown business establishment.

Fletcher, a Marine veteran and former assemblyman, has broad but not deep support across most demographics. He touts the backing of business and some labor groups as evidence that he’s the only candidate who can build coalitions and get things done. His detractors point to his recent evolution from lifelong Republican to pro-labor Democrat and say he can’t be trusted.

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The issues

On the surface, Alvarez, Faulconer and Fletcher appear to have strikingly similar goals. Each wants to pour more money into road repairs and neighborhood improvements, increase emergency response times, pay police officers more money and create more jobs. They also don’t have much of a plan on how to finance that wish list.

Where they differ is on how they would get the job done.

Alvarez says he’s been fighting for the neglected southern neighborhoods he represents and knows how best to help them.